Page 7 of Heartbreak Kings
“Sabine is a means to their end.” Nathaniel’s solemn voice from down at the end of the table caught everyone’s attention. He rarely said anything unless it was important.
I interjected, “And their endgame is making this a coeducational university. We don’t want that to happen.” I arched a brow. “But the administration has ignored both us and their major donors.”
“Major donors?” Marcus chuckled. “Just say our parents, Blake. Carmody’s too, or he wouldn’t even be here.”
The corner of my eye twitched. “We do not, as we’ve all learned, control the opinions or actions of our parents. They share our interest in maintaining a single-sex campus. They also, like you, Carmody, believe that the distraction of women will prevent us from focusing on our studies.”
“And what a lovely distraction she is,” Daniel commented cheerfully.
There were chuckles around the room, except for Carmody, whose face matched his ratty purple sweater. If there was one thing Carmody hated more than women, it was the reminder that most of us didn’t share his hatred.
Damn, now I have to settle them down before he has a stroke or something.
“Braun, you’re not helping.”
Marcus laughed and patted my shoulder. “Lighten up, cousin. You know we all think so.” His eyes twinkled, and I shrugged in response.
“Fine,” I grumbled. He was correct. Sabine was exquisite. Her beauty, like her fire, lingered in my memory even when I didn’t want it to. Dark eyes, fluffy, tousled hair, courage, and grace. We had been watching her from afar, and her poise under the stress of this situation was attractive. In other circumstances, I would have planned to get her into my bed, not drive her out of Markinswell.Hmm. Perhaps I can do both.
“I have nothing personal against the girl,” I stated. “She’s poor, and this seems to be her one shot at a prestigious university like Markinswell.” I let that point sink in. I saw a lot of uncomfortable fidgeting around the room.
I needed something stronger than the drink in my hand. All this friction was leaving a foul taste in my mouth. But I couldn’t ignore the needs of my pledges, even if some of them were being idiots about this Sabine clusterfuck.
I continued, “If we drive her away with harassment that she can document and report, we’ll be expelled, and another girl will replace her. If she leaves voluntarily, for something unrelated to us, with no documentation implicating anyone, it will look like her own failure. That will make her an embarrassment to the university and strengthen our position.”
Carmody blinked as he digested my words. “So, you’re planning something subtle.”
Oh dear God, you are about five steps behind.
Can we get rid of you instead?
I stared at him until he fidgeted again. “Yes. Exactly. If you don’t ruin it with your lack of couth.”
Carmody relaxed a little. His nervous smile told me that even he knew better than to press his luck any further. “I’ll stay away from her. Just as long as you’re acting on this.”
I stomped on my surge of anger and lifted an eyebrow coldly. He turned and hurried out, mumbling his farewells over his shoulder.
I puffed out my breath in relief as he left. The newer members were all drifting away now that the show was over, leaving the five of us lounging around with our beers.
“So, what do you plan to do?” Jude, the shortest and youngest of us, tossed his blond mop off his forehead and stared at me with interest. He was the one the pledges had come to. He had the closest ties to them and listened to them a little too much. Of the five in our inner circle, he was the one I felt needed the closest watching. He was empathetic but emotional, and a touch immature.
I took a sip of my beer. “Well, I’ve given it some thought. We need more information on our girl, so we can assess her weaknesses and personality traits. So far, she seems both highly intelligent and very strong-willed. And she has no qualms about damaging the reputations of those who harm her by exposing them.”
“How do you plan to avoid her trying that on us?” Nathaniel asked, tilting his head slightly. “She’s a reporter. She’s already using her skills as her best weapon against her tormentors.”
“Well…” I smirked. “Remember how you’re always referring to emotions as a weakness?”
I heard a rustle as the guys sat forward in their seats and turned to me, suddenly very interested. Nathaniel stayed perfectly still, narrow white hands folded in his lap, and lifted an eyebrow. “Yes?” he queried.
“The best way to get the administration’s pawn to leave is willingly, discreetly,” I started. “And without the ability to think about the situation. What if she were to have her heart broken, multiple times in quick succession, by men she thinks she has something special with?”
Jude whooped with approval.
Nathaniel sat back, frowning thoughtfully.
Marcus sat quietly with his brows drawn together. “That’s kind of cruel,” he protested, surprising me a little. He was usually the first to make a joke, even in tense circumstances.
I nodded. “Cruel but necessary. Go too hard, and we’ll all end up in trouble. But go too gently, and she won’t leave.” And she needed to leave. The uproar over her was too disruptive. It wasn’t like I could go around duct-taping the mouths of every Carmody on campus. There had to be over sixty of them, as embarrassing as it was to admit that.
